Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: Mohammed Shami should be in the Indian T20 and Test cricket teams. This is what former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer thinks. He made this statement especially keeping in mind the return of pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the Indian team after four years. In an interview given to a channel. Right-arm pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been included in the Indian T20 team for the New Zealand tour to be held in November. Bhuvneshwar Kumar last represented the Indian team in the away series against New Zealand in 2022.
Mohammed Shami last donned the Indian team jersey in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Since then, he has only received a lot of neglect from the national selectors. Despite showing consistent success for Bengal and in domestic cricket. If former BCCI selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar was questioned about Shami's issue, he would have raised Shami's fitness issue as a reason for dropping him.
Now, with Ajit Agarkar no longer the chairman of the selection committee and Bhuvneshwar Kumar returning to the Indian team, Wasim Jaffer believes that Mohammed Shami should get a chance in the Indian team, especially in the one-day format of cricket. Because the young pacers have not been able to perform as expected so far. According to Jaffer, 'Jashprit Bumrah is the number one pacer in the team. But the rest of the team in the one-day team have not been able to give their best yet. Even though Gurnur Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Kumar Reddy were bowled, it did not seem like the team management was happy or confident in their performance. Mohammed Siraj was also not given much game time. I don't understand who is the second or third seamer in the Indian team, with Jashprit Bumrah? Hardik Pandya is not ready yet. So I think Mohammed Shami should be included in the ODI team, especially keeping in mind the upcoming World Cup.’
The Indian bowling attack, especially the pace battery, has not been performing well without Bumrah. West Indies have scored 295-7, 405-7 and 325-7 in three ODI matches in the recent series. The 2027 World Cup is not far away. Before that, we need to improve our bowling strength and become champions.
According to Jaffer, it is important to set up the team by giving opportunities to experienced players with the World Cup in mind, rather than keeping young pacers in the team and testing them. Why not use those who have quality? My first choice is Shami and Siraj with Bumrah. Later, we can think about bringing in the rest. It is in the interest of the team that they play on time.’
Jaffer did not say anything wrong. Shami not only made the most of his opportunity to bowl for the Indian team in the 2023 World Cup, but also turned the tide of the Indian team's game. After spending the first 4 matches off the field, he got a chance to play in the starting XI after Hardik Pandya was ruled out against Bangladesh due to an ankle injury. Shami took 5 wickets for 54 runs in the first match he got a chance to play in the Dharamsala ground. Not only that, he took 5 wickets for 18 runs in the Sri Lanka match in the league stage and gave India a victory. Shami defeated New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in the semi-final by taking 7 wickets for 57 runs. Which is still a record among Indian bowlers in ODI World Cup cricket.